Here at Politics PA, we want to make sure that you are aware of who is running for elected office and where they stand.

Today, we take a look at the candidates for office in Dauphin County.

Judge of the Court of Common Pleas

• La Tasha C. Williams (D)
• Courtney K. Powell (D/R)

County Commissioner

Dauphin County Commissioners are essentially the CEOs of the county, with authority over budgets and finance, debts, contracts, appointment of department heads and staff in departments that report directly to the board, as well as appointments to the many authorities, commissions and boards. Commissioners are elected to four-year terms.

• George P. Hartwick III (D)
• Justin Douglas (D)
• Mike Pries (R)
• Chad Saylor (R)

District Attorney

The Dauphin County District Attorney is elected to a four-year term as the chief law enforcement officer of the county. The District Attorney oversees an office of 31 prosecutors, 12 detectives, and over 30 support personnel.

• Fran Chardo (R)

Sheriff

• Nick Chimienti (R)

Clerk of Courts

The Clerk of Courts is an officer of the court and an independently elected official serving a four-year term. The main office is primarily responsible for recording, maintaining, and processing criminal and juvenile records for the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas.

• Bridget M. Whitley (D)
• John McDonald (R)

Register of Wills & Clerk of Orphans’ Court

The primary duties of the Register of Wills & Clerk of the Orphans’ Court include probating estates, acting as the inheritance tax agent for the PA Department of Revenue, processing applications for marriage licenses, maintaining dockets for adoptions, terminations of parental rights, and guardianships for minors and incapacitated adults, among other things.

• Jean Marfizo King (R)

Recorder of Deeds

Recorder of Deeds maintains all deeds and miscellaneous documents from 1785 to the present and mortgages from 1979 to the present.

• Tami Dykes (D)
• Jim Zugay (R)

County Treasurer

• Fred Faylona (D)
• Nick DiFrancesco (R)

County Controller

The Controller is the elected Chief Fiscal Officer of Dauphin County who supervises fiscal affairs, as set forth by the Pennsylvania County Code for Counties of the Third Class. The Controller is required by these Pennsylvania statutes to maintain and keep all fiscal and accounting records and to assure compliance of all financial and fiscal records in accordance with the latest standards and procedures of the accounting profession.

• Mary Bateman (R)

City Council, City of Harrisburg (vote for three)

• Lori Beamer Saulisbury (D)
• Leslie C. Franklin (D)
• Danielle L. Bowers (D)
• Cole Goodman (D)
• Lamont Jones (D)
• Crystal Davis (D)
• Robert Lawson (D)
• Brad Barkdoll (D)

Treasurer, City of Harrisburg

• Dan Miller (D)

Magisterial District Judge (MDJ) 

Magisterial District Court is the first level of judicial authority in Pennsylvania and is the court where most people experience the judicial system for the first time. Magisterial District Judges handle all traffic cases, minor criminal cases, and civil cases involving amounts up to $12,000. Magisterial District Judges also set bail and conduct preliminary hearings in misdemeanor and felony criminal cases to determine if the cases should be dismissed or transferred to the Court of Common Pleas for further proceedings.  County Magisterial Districts Map

MDJ 12-1-02

• Matthew Pianka (D/R)

MDJ 12-1-04

• Mikaela Sloan (D)

MDJ 12-1-05

• Claude B. Phipps (D)
• Hanif L. Johnson (D/R)
• Lori Ann Jenkins (D)

MDJ 12-1-06

• Wendy JF Grella (D/R)

MDJ 12-2-01

• Michael J. Smith (D/R)

MDJ 12-2-03

• David H. Judy (D/R)

MDJ 12-3-01

• Rebecca J. Margerum (D/R)